Chicagos Crittle is Oregon bound

Eugene, Oregon is apparently becoming a Chicago suburb. Windy City native Josh Crittle is the latest Midwestern to give a nod to the University of Oregon. The 6-foot-8, 220-pound power forward committed to the Pac-10 school.

Crittle informed Rivals.com late Wednesday night of his decision.

"That was the place that felt the most comfortable to me and I enjoyed the guys and coaches a lot," Crittle said. "Oregon is a great place for me and it probably the main reason why I went there was because they can develop me as a player and a person."

The pick shouldn't come as a big surprise. Crittle knows a couple of familiar faces there already and a pair of good friends have already told Ernie Kent that they were coming to Eugene.

Crittle joins Hales Franciscan teammate Matthew Humphrey and Michael Dunigan, a center out of Farragut High School in the 2008 recruiting class for the Ducks. The three all played with the Mean Streets AAU club over the spring and summer. Oregon native Drew Wiley, a 6-foot-7 small forward, is also part of the class.

"Even if they didn't go there, I'd be going to Oregon," Crittle said. "It just helps having two of my best friends going there with me."

The big man gives the Ducks another power player in an up-and-down conference. Crittle said he hopes to give the team some more strength but is also open to adding more facets to his game.

"I can bring a lot of power to the team and I will still probably be able to kill people on the blocks but I also hope that I can become an all around player and run the floor and have some finesse to my game."

Crittle officially visited Oregon on Sept. 28, when the Ducks hosted Cal on the gridiron. He made the trip with Humphrey and Dunigan.

"Their fans are great. They were getting into it," Crittle said. "I've seen a couple of (basketball games on) tape and how their games are. They are crazy. I'm going to try to get out there but I have my own season so we'll see."

Crittle also visited Minnesota, Kansas State and Southern Illinois.